First Week Woes: Trials & Triumphs of A Transfer Student
It’s a new fall quarter and if you’re new to the DePaul University experience – feeling lost will one day be a core memory. Navigating simple things like making sure you have your ID can be frustrating but trust that it’ll work out… because at DePaul: “Here, we do,” and get it done.
Feeling green doesn’t feel great when you’re at the blue. The “Blue” meaning DePaul. As a transfer student, navigating around the new campus life can feel challenging but it is possible – believe me. I did the thing, ultra-prepared and attended my orientation, paid attention to the list of resource centers and available help offered to new transfer students. Despite that, I could not help but experience feeling green and I let something slip up. It’s normal though and I tried my best to not beat myself up about it.
Similar to any literal “transfer”, there is a chain of events that happens, whether before or after. Well, during my first week, I realized that I didn’t submit my ID picture which then prevented me from picking up my U-PASS up during the distribution (you need your Blue Demon ID card). This created a transferring chain of “blunders” that are completely normal for transfer and 1st-year students alike but it is frustrating nevertheless. The difference among these chain of events is whether you feel supported or not. At DePaul, I’m happy to say that I did. I had staff and students available to answer my questions and I felt safe to ask even the most “obvious” of questions.
I learned that DePaul allows students to submit ID pictures digitally, and even a selfie is acceptable if it meets the requirements. Once submitted, you’ll receive your digital ID within a few hours, or even minutes. This was extremely helpful because up until last week, I was driving to campus every day because I didn’t yet feel confident in my CTA commute plan ensuring I arrived on time (why are trains always delayed?). I say that because I was able to submit my selfie last Monday morning, wait a few minutes for approval, and then have a valid digital ID, allowing me to pick up my U-PASS the same day. A smooth transfer..almost. I needed to wait a week for my ACTUAL U-Pass but because of my visible sadness, the Student Services team gave me a 7-Day pass to hold me over until then. Thank you, DePaul!
I learned a lot my first week and even more my second week (I got stitches)! Whether you’re a new transfer or first-year student, feeling supported is incredibly invaluable. As a first-generation student, it’s always been challenging to understand the nuances of higher education, so it’s important to seek out your support system and feel unashamed in not knowing. Join me on my path to graduation! I’ll be talking about my favorite cafés near campus, day-in-the-life experiences, and more life stories. Junior year—let’s go!
How To Submit An ID Picture | Blue Demon Card Home | Student Services
Marco Garcia | IG: AstroTheProtege | First-Generation Latino Digital Marketing Student